Process for producing ophthalmic lenses



June. 15 1926.

H. R. MOULTON PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPHTHALMIC LENSES Filed March 11 1925 III 4 a I gl-n'umdoz v HaraldKHlouHn.

a CS 2 flfl'orucq Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES HAROLD R. MOULTON, or sournnnrnonj MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY AS80 CIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPHTHALMIC LENSES.

Application filed March 11, 1925. Serial No. 14,724.

This invention relates to the art of producing lenses, and has particular reference to the provision of an improved process for produclng ophthalmic lenses by blast abrad ing. 1

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved process for producing ophthalmic lenses more rapidly and more economically than has been possible in the past without the use of grindingtools.

Another object is to provide such a process which will not require specially shaped surfacing tools for its exploitation.

Another object is to provide such a recess which will be especially adaptable or the production 'of asphcrical or irregular-curved surfaces.

Another object is to provide such a process which will be equally adaptable for rough surfacing and polishing of lenses.

a With these'and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel features of construction and steps of the process as hereina after set forth, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several VIBWSZV I Figure 1 is an elevation of a piece of glass stock from which a lens is to be produced;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a air of molding dies, wherein the lens blank 15 formed to the proper surface shape,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the finishingof the lens surface after molding. I p v v In carrying out the invention, a' piece of optical glass 10 is provided of the approxi-- mate outline desired and preferably with smooth surfaces, said piece of glass being entirely free from StIltB, internal bubbles, etc., which would .be objectionable in a lens. The blank is then softened as by heating until it becomes substantially 1as'tic,where.- upon it is dropped into a mo d member 11 having an operative'surface' 12, which surface is of the exact curvature it is desired to impart to the lens blank. I'A die'pl unger13 is then'brou htdown against the outer surface of the b ank 10 so as to depress the same the lens blank 10 is adapted to be mounted after it has been formed to the proper shape.

The spindle 16 may be stationary or it may be capable of rotation through the instrumentality of a pulley 17 connected to'a suitable source of power. Opposed to the spindle 16 is an abrasive ejecting head or nozzle 18, which ,is supplied with compressed air through the pipe 19, and with abrasive material such as sand through the pipe 20.'

As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the bottom of the chamber 15 may be formed as a hopper 21, whereby the usedabrasive material may be collected and returned to the pipe 20 by compressed air in a pipe22.

After'the lens has been formed to shape, as described in connection with Figure 3, it is mounted upon a suitable holder or block 23, which may be supported upon the upper.

extremity of the spindle 16. When it is thus mounted a blast of fluid abrasive is impelled against the exposed surface of the lens blank. Obviously there are several different materials which may be used for this finish-' ing operation. I have found that a fine grade of sandis very desirable for the roughing operations, whichmay'be termed equivalent to the rough inding in the prior art as the lens so treated will have a ground glass appearance but will be true to shape, after whichI ma use a mixture of moistoned. rouge and ne sawdust for the purpose of polishing the surface to a clear polished lens surface, the moistened rouge and sawdust bein spra ed or blasted on exactly ations.

v After'the first surface has thus been finto the act on of the blasting operations, or-

like the. san I in t e rough blasting operthe second side may be finished in any other;

' but it will be translucent like ground glass.

" The will smooth and polish the blank to a clear transparent lens surface without altering its shape; hence the lens will be finished tothe required curvature with a high lens polish clear and serviceable for retracting purposes. In this way lens' surfaces of a shape that cannot be made by grinding can be formed in a simple, inexpensive. way.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that I have produced an improved process for surfacing lenses, and that said process will be very economical in commercial applicatign, and readily adaptable, for any type of a ens.

Obviously changes may be resorted to in the details and in the arrangement of the steps of the process, and the right is' herein reserved to make such changes falling. within the scope of the appended claims without de artmg from the spirit of the invention.

aving thus descr1bed-.my invention, I claim:

1. A process for producing an ophthalmic.

lens which consists in molding a lens blank to desired'surface shape, and finishing the surface by spraying an abrasive fluid thereagainst.

2. A process. for rough surfacing an; ophpolishing' blast with rouge and sawdust tha-lmic lens. blank which consists in molding a lens blank to desired shape and thereafter spraying the blank with sand.

3. A process for producing an o hthalmic lens which consists in molding a ensblank to desired shape, and thereafter abrading the surface ofthe blank by rotating it in the path of a spray of abrasive fluid.

4. A process for producin an ophthalmic lens which consists n rovi mg a glass disc,

while. in plastic condition, rotating the blank,

and subjecting the surface of the blank to a and blast while rotating.

6. A process for making an ophthalmic lens consisting in molding a glass blank having polished surfaces to the required curvature, roughin the formed blank with a sand blast, and po ishing the roughed surface to a finished lens surface with aspray of rouge.

7. A' process for making an ophthalmic lens consisting inmolding apiece of glass with polished surfaces to the r uired-curvaturc, treating the molded blan to a sand blast, and then treating the blasted blank to a blast of mixed rouge and sawdust to produce a polished lens surface thereon.

8. A process for making an ophthalmic lens consisting in molding a piece of glass having polished surfaces to the re uired curvature, sandblasting the molded lank, and then blasting the blank with a blast of polishing material.

1 HAROLD MOULTON. 

